1. Sweet Treats

I mean, obviously I have to start here. One great way to enhance your advent calendar experience is to include a variety of delicious treats that will tantalize the taste buds of your recipients. From gourmet chocolates to their favorite sweet treat, these delightful surprises will make each day leading up to Christmas a delectable and memorable experience!

• Mini candy canes – Classic and festive holiday sweets.
• Chocolate truffles – Rich, indulgent treats in small portions.
• Peppermint bark squares – Seasonal and delicious.
• Wrapped caramels – Soft, chewy, and sweet.
• Mini chocolate bars – Individually wrapped for a daily treat.
• Gingerbread cookies – Small, spiced, and perfect for the holidays.
• Hot cocoa packets – Single-serve packets for a cozy drink.
• Chocolate coins – Fun and nostalgic holiday chocolates.
• Marshmallow bites – Festive, flavored, or dipped in chocolate.
• Holiday-themed gummies – In shapes like snowmen, reindeer, or trees.
• Mini bags of popcorn – Sweet, caramel, or chocolate-coated versions.
• Chocolate-covered pretzels – A sweet and salty snack.
• Fudge squares – Rich and perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth.
• Mini cupcakes or cake pops – Small, festive, and beautifully decorated.
• Peanut butter cups – Small, indulgent bites of chocolate and peanut butter.
• Candy-coated almonds – Crunchy and sweet.
• Chocolate-dipped spoons – For stirring into coffee or hot chocolate.
• Fruit-flavored hard candies – Individually wrapped in holiday colors.
• Homemade holiday bark – Packed with nuts, candy, or dried fruits.

2. DIY Coupons

Did you ever give coupons to your parents when you were young? FREE and so precious. So consider some personalized notes or coupons to add an extra layer of warmth and sentiment to your advent calendar gifts. A handwritten message or DIY coupon can turn a simple gift into a cherished keepsake. These cards show thoughtfulness, care and express your gratitude for the ones you love. Here are some ideas to get the creative juices going – some are for kids, some for adults and some for either:

• Extra Screen Time – Redeem for 30 minutes of additional TV or game time.
• Skip a Chore Day – Take the day off from your regular chores!
• Movie Night of Your Choice – Pick the movie, and we’ll bring the snacks.
• One Ice Cream Outing – Enjoy your favorite ice cream with a special trip!
• Stay Up 30 Minutes Late – Bedtime? Not tonight!
• Choose a Family Activity – You pick what we do for family time.
• Breakfast in Bed – Pick your favorite breakfast, served in bed!
• One-On-One Game Night – Just you and a parent, with your favorite games.
• Extra Story Time – Get an extra story at bedtime.
• DIY Craft Day – Choose a craft project to make together!
• Homemade Dinner of Your Choice – Pick any meal, and I’ll make it for you.
• One Hour of Quiet Time – No interruptions for one peaceful hour (for the parents out there!)
• Free Back Massage – A relaxing massage, no strings attached.
• Date Night In – I’ll plan a cozy night at home with your favorite food and movie.
• Uninterrupted Hobby Time – Enjoy a few hours to work on your favorite hobby.
• Guilt-Free Nap – Take a nap whenever you want, no questions asked!
• Coffee or Tea Run – I’ll pick up your favorite coffee or tea order.
• Weekend Adventure Day – Choose an outing or activity for a day trip or fun weekend adventure!

3. Toys & Trinkets

Especially for the littles, small toys and trinkets can add an element of surprise and whimsy to their advent calendar. Consider incorporating items like keychains, charms, or miniature figurines to bring a smile to their face each day. These small tokens can serve as mementos of fond memories or inside jokes, making them a special addition to any advent calendar. There are SO many options, but here are 40 or so to get you going:

• Miniature figurines – Dolls, action figures, animal figures or Lego mini-figs!
• Bouncy balls – Fun and colorful for playtime.
• Erasers – Cute, themed erasers.
• Finger puppets – Fun for storytelling and imaginative play.
• Keychains – Fun and quirky designs, perfect for backpacks.
• Tiny building blocks or legos – Mini sets for creative construction
• Small cars or vehicles – Great for little ones.
• Yo-yos – Classic toy for fun tricks and play.
• Silly putty or slime – Squishy and satisfying to play with.
• Marbles – Colorful glass or plastic marbles for games.
• Temporary tattoos – Fun designs for decorating skin
• Kaleidoscopes – Colorful, mesmerizing toys to look through.
• Plastic dinosaurs or animals – Great for imaginative play.
• Tangle toys – Fidget toys for stress relief and fun.
• Rubber stamps – Tiny stamps with fun designs for crafting.
• Squeezy stress balls – Fun and squishy for stress relief.
• Miniature notebooks – Perfect for jotting down thoughts or drawings.
• Water beads – Fun sensory play materials.
• Magic tricks or cards – Easy-to-learn tricks for entertainment.
• Puzzle cubes – Mini brain teasers for kids and adults.
• Small stuffed animals – Cute, plush toys to cuddle.
• Tiny wind-up toys – Fun mechanical toys that move
• Miniature puzzles – Small jigsaw puzzles with fun images.
• Finger skateboards – Tiny skateboards for finger tricks.
• Magic wands – Fun, whimsical wands for imaginative play.
• Kinetic sand – Small containers of moldable sand for sensory play.
• Slap bracelets – Fun and colorful wristbands that snap on.
• Glow-in-the-dark stars – For decorating a bedroom ceiling.
• Miniature spy kits – Small magnifying glasses or spy glasses.
• Plastic toy food – Small pieces for imaginative cooking play.
• Mini model kits – Tiny sets to build simple models.
• Joke or riddle cards – Fun jokes or riddles to share daily.
• Miniature soccer balls or basketballs – For small-scale sports play.
• Mini magnetic building blocks – Small sets for creative construction.
• Bubbles – Tiny bottles of bubble solution for outdoor fun.
• Finger flashlights – Tiny lights that can be worn on fingers for fun.
• Nerf darts – Small foam darts for Nerf guns.
• Seed packets – Tiny packets for planting flowers or herbs.
• Miniature snow globes – Cute decorations with holiday themes.

4. Winter & Holiday Themed Activities

In addition to tasty treats, consider incorporating winter activities into your advent calendar gift ideas to mix it up and keep the holiday spirit alive all month long. From ice skating and sledding to building snowmen or having a cozy movie night by the fireplace, these activities will add an extra element of joy and excitement to the countdown to Christmas.

And for those seeking a bit of adventure, why not plan a weekend getaway to a snowy cabin or take a scenic winter hike to admire the beauty of the season? Embrace the magic of winter with these engaging activities that will make each day leading up to Christmas truly special.

• Go on a holiday light tour – Drive or walk around to see the festive lights in your neighborhood
• Build a snowman – Don’t forget the carrot nose and scarf!
• Make homemade hot cocoa – Add marshmallows or whipped cream for extra fun.
• Have a cozy movie night – Watch your favorite holiday movie with blankets and popcorn.
• Go ice skating – Indoors or outdoors, it’s a fun way to enjoy the winter weather.
• Bake holiday cookies – Let everyone decorate their own cookies with festive sprinkles.
• Write letters to Santa – A classic activity for the little ones.
• Do a holiday puzzle – Cozy up with a fun winter-themed puzzle.
• Make snow angels – Bundle up and head outside to create snow art!
• Have a Christmas karaoke night – Sing your favorite holiday songs with family or friends.
• Host a holiday craft day – Make ornaments, holiday cards, or DIY decorations.
• Create a winter scavenger hunt – Look for items like pinecones, red berries, or snowflakes.
• Make paper snowflakes – Decorate your windows with handmade snowflakes.
• Read holiday stories by the fireplace – Grab a book and some blankets for a cozy night.
• Take a winter nature walk – Enjoy the crisp air and look for wildlife or winter scenery.
• Have a holiday card-making session – Create handmade cards to send to family and friends.
• Holiday game night – Play festive games like charades or Pictionary with a holiday twist.
• Build a gingerbread house and get creative with the decorations.
• Have a snowball fight
• Go sledding at a local hill or park.
• Set up a hot cocoa bar – Offer different toppings like candy canes, cinnamon, and chocolate chips.
• Make DIY snow globes with mason jars and little figurines.
• Holiday pajama day – Cozy up in your PJs all day and enjoy the holiday spirit.

5. Craft Supplies

Including small craft supplies in an advent calendar is a fun and creative way to inspire some more engaging activities with crafting! Fill up some of those pockets with tiny treasures like mini skeins of yarn, colorful embroidery floss, washi tape, stickers, or small paint sets. These items are perfect for quick DIY projects or adding personal touches to larger creations. As each new day reveals a different supply, it offers an opportunity to spark imagination and get crafty during the holiday countdown.

• Mini skeins of yarn – Great for small projects or colorwork.
• Embroidery floss – In holiday colors or a variety pack.
• Tiny scissors – Compact and great for on-the-go crafting.
• Buttons – Decorative or vintage buttons for projects.
• Pom-Poms – Small and fun for creating embellishments.
• Washable fabric markers – For labeling or designing projects.
• Washi tape – Ideal for crafting, journaling, or wrapping presents.
• Measuring tape – A cute, retractable version for crochet projects.
• Thimbles – For hand-sewing or embroidery projects.
• Sewing needles – For mending or adding embellishments to projects.
• Tiny bells – Perfect for adding to holiday crafts or decorations.
• Embroidery hoops – Small ones for quick, decorative projects.
• Mini spools of thread – In various colors for hand-sewing or repairs.
• Appliques or iron-on patches – Great for personalizing projects.
• Small packs of beads – For embellishing crochet, knitting, or other crafts.
• Stickers – You can’t go wrong with stickers for the littles!
• Crayons – Mini sets for coloring and crafting
• Chalk
• Craft punches – Mini punches to create shapes or designs in paper.
• Pastel crayons
• Miniature containers – For storing small craft items or supplies.
• Small pots of paint
• Ribbons – Small lengths of decorative ribbons for crafts or gift wrapping.
• Sponges and Mini paintbrushes – For applying paint or other mediums
• Small Packs of Sequins – Small and fun for creating embellishments to crafts and decorations
• Craft glue or glue sticks – Essential for sticking various materials together.
• Pipe cleaners – Colorful pipe cleaners for various craft projects.

6. Beauty and Pampering

Filling an advent calendar with beauty and pampering products turns each day into a little self-care treat! Include items like mini lotions, lip balms, bath bombs, travel-sized face masks, or cute nail polishes. These small indulgences fit perfectly into the pockets and offer a daily moment of relaxation and refreshment during the busy holiday season. It’s a fun way to encourage a bit of pampering each day while counting down to Christmas! Scrub through this list of pampering products to add to your list of advent calendar gift ideas this year:

• Mini hand lotions – Perfect for on-the-go hydration.
• Lip balm – In fun holiday flavors like peppermint or vanilla.
• Nail polish – Small bottles in festive colors.
• Travel-sized face masks – Sheet masks or single-use packets.
• Bath bombs – Compact and great for a relaxing bath.
• Cuticle oil – A small bottle for nail care.
• Mini perfume vials – Sample-sized scents to try out.
• Lip scrub – Small containers of exfoliating scrub.
• Travel-sized shampoo or conditioner – Perfect for pampering hair.
• Compact mirror – Cute and practical for a purse or makeup bag.
• Facial cleansing wipes – Single-use packets for easy skincare.
• Mini makeup brushes – Perfect for travel or a makeup kit.
• Hair ties or scrunchies – Fun and festive hair accessories.
• Nail file or buffer – Small but essential for nail care.
• Essential oil roller – Travel-sized for relaxation or energy.
• Foot soak packets – Relaxing treatments for tired feet.
• Under-eye gel patches – A mini spa treatment for the eyes.
• Lip gloss – Small tubes in holiday or neutral shades.
• Hair clips or barrettes – Stylish and functional hair accessories.
• Bath salts – Small packets of relaxing bath salts in various scents.
• Travel-sized body wash – Convenient for pampering on the go.
• Scented sachets – Small bags filled with fragrant herbs or dried flowers.
• Lip masks – Hydrating masks specifically for the lips.
• Nail stickers – Fun designs for easy nail art.
• Small body scrub – Single-use packets of exfoliating scrub.
• Eye cream samples – Travel-sized for targeted skincare.
• Facial mists – Refreshing sprays for hydration and glow.
• Small candle tins – Scented candles for relaxation.
• Bubble bath packets – Single-use packets for a bubbly soak.
• Essential oils – For skincare or relaxation.
• Small bath sponges or loofahs – Perfect for a spa-like experience.
• Hand sanitizer – Small bottles with pleasant scents.
• Nail files – Fun designs for nail care.
• Mini massage balls – For relieving tension in muscles.
• Essential oil diffuser necklaces – Small pendants for aromatherapy.
• Travel-sized sunblock – Perfect for skin protection on the go.
• Gift cards – To local spas or beauty stores for self-care treats.